Thomas Wilson (rhetorician) facts for kids
Thomas Wilson (born 1524, died 1581) was an important English diplomat and judge. He worked for Queen Elizabeth I as a trusted advisor and Secretary of State. He is best known for his books Logique (1551) and The Arte of Rhetorique (1553). These books were the first complete works on logic (how to reason well) and rhetoric (the art of speaking or writing effectively) written in English. He also wrote about money lending and was the first to translate the speeches of Demosthenes, a famous Greek speaker, into English.
Contents
Life
Early Life and Education
Thomas Wilson was born in 1524, the son of a farmer from Strubby, Lincolnshire. He went to Eton College, a famous school, and then to King's College, Cambridge. At Cambridge, he joined a group of scholars who loved studying ancient Greek, including John Cheke and Thomas Smith. He earned his first university degree in 1546 and a master's degree in 1549.
Time Abroad and Return
Wilson was a close friend to the sons of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, especially Robert Dudley. When the Dudley family lost power in 1553, Wilson had to leave England. He spent time in Padua and Rome. In 1558, Queen Mary ordered him to return to England to face charges. He refused, was arrested by the Roman Inquisition, and was even tortured. He managed to escape and fled to Ferrara. By 1560, he was back in London.
Political Career
In 1561, Wilson became the Master of Requests and head of St Katherine's Hospital near the Tower of London. In January 1563, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Mitchell, Cornwall. Later, in 1571 and 1572, he was elected as an MP for London.
From 1574 to 1577, Wilson worked as a diplomat, mainly in the Low Countries (modern-day Belgium and Netherlands). When he returned to England, he was made a privy councillor and became Secretary of State alongside Francis Walsingham. In 1580, Queen Elizabeth I appointed him Dean of Durham, even though he was not a priest. Thomas Wilson died on June 16, 1581, at St Katherine's Hospital. He was buried simply, as he wished.
Works
Books on Logic and Rhetoric
In 1551, Thomas Wilson published The Rule of Reason, conteinynge the Arte of Logique set forth in Englishe. This book explained logic in English and was printed many times.
His most famous book, The Arte of Rhetorique, was published in 1553. It was the first complete book in English about rhetoric (the art of speaking and writing well) and how to analyze literature.
English Style and Translations
The Arte of Rhetorique helped shape English writing style. Wilson believed in clear and simple prose. He did not like old-fashioned words or "inkhorn terms," which were new words borrowed from Greek and Latin that he found too fancy. He encouraged a more straightforward way of writing.
In 1570, Wilson published the first English translation of the Olynthiacs and Philippics, famous speeches by the Greek speaker Demosthenes. He had been working on this translation since 1556. His book A Discourse upon Usury, which was about money lending, came out in 1572. He dedicated this book to his friend and former student, Robert Dudley.
Family
Thomas Wilson was married to Agnes Wynter. She was the widow of William Broke and the sister of Sir William Wynter. Agnes died in 1574. Thomas and Agnes had one son and two daughters:
- Nicholas Wilson, who lived in Sheepwash, Lincolnshire.
- Mary Wilson, who later married Robert Burdett and then Sir Christopher Lowther.
- Lucrece Wilson, who later married Sir George Belgrave.
Thomas Wilson's will, which was approved in 1582, mentioned his brother Godfrey Wilson. Sir Francis Walsingham and Sir William Wynter were among those who helped manage his will.
